Orlando Personal Injury Attorneys
Representing Clients in Orlando and throughout Florida
Personal injury accidents can occur in a wide variety of circumstances and settings, including in motor vehicles, on someone else’s property, or at a place of business. One thing all types of injury accidents have in common is that the victim is left with physical injuries and/or psychological trauma as a result of the accident.
When such accidents are the result of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of another, whether an individual or business, the responsible party may be held liable for the losses and damages that result. These losses and damages may include such things as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as pain and suffering.
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in any type of injury accident or incident in Orlando or in the surrounding areas of Central Florida, it is important to seek competent legal representation to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. At Bailey Fisher, our experienced, skilled Orlando attorneys concentrate exclusively on personal injury cases and are committed to helping you hold the responsible party accountable for his negligence and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
How Do I Know If I Was Involved in a Personal Injury Accident?
The first step in obtaining compensation for injuries suffered in a personal injury accident is recognizing that you are a victim. The law may hold a party responsible for injuries to a victim when that party’s negligence or wrongdoing caused, or contributed, to those injuries.
Negligence is a legal concept that requires an injured party to prove four things:
- That the defendant owed a duty of care to the victim.
- That the defendant breached that duty of care.
- That the breach caused, or contributed, to the victim’s injuries.
- That the victim suffered “damages” as a result.
To illustrate the concept of negligence, imagine that you were involved in a car accident and you believe the other driver was at fault. Courts long ago decided that all motorists owe a duty of care to others on the roadway. If the driver in your case was under the influence of alcohol, the law regards this as a clear breach of the duty of care. The driver’s impaired state caused him to veer into your lane, causing a collision. As a result, you suffered physical injuries and experienced fear and depression for several months following the collision.
A party may also be held liable for a victim’s injuries under a legal theory known as “strict liability.” Strict liability does not require a victim to prove anything other than that the defendant’s conduct caused injuries. Many states, including Florida, have strict liability dog bite laws. In Florida, for example, it is not necessary to prove previous aggressive behavior by the dog nor any failure on the part of the owner. If a dog bites you while you are on public property or lawfully on private property, the owner is liable.
Although not an exhaustive list, the following are common examples of personal injury accidents:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Medical errors
- Accidental shootings
- Premises liability accidents
- Defective product accidents
- Construction accidents
Am I Entitled to Compensation?
If you were injured in a personal injury accident, or you are the surviving family member of someone who was fatally injured in a personal injury accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you have suffered, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refers to the actual, out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a direct result of the defendant’s negligence or wrongdoing. Examples of economic damages include lost wages, medical bills, and costs associated with repairing damaged property (such as your vehicle in a car accident).
Non-economic damages are what most people call “pain and suffering.” Where economic damages are objective in nature, non-economic damages are subjective. Things such as permanent disability, disfigurement, blindness, loss of a limb, paralysis, trauma, or physical pain and suffering can be compensated in a non-economic damages award.
The compensation awarded in a personal injury case will depend on numerous factors, including whether the victim contributed at all to the accident, the extent and severity of any physical injuries, and the individual characteristics of the victim or the defendant. Only an experienced personal injury attorney can review the unique facts and circumstances of your case and offer advice on the best way to proceed to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Contact Experienced Orlando Personal Injury Attorneys for Legal Advice and Help with Your Personal Injury Case
At Bailey Fisher, we understand that accident injuries can be devastating. Mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering can diminish your quality of life and impact your entire family. We are committed to advising and helping you and your family during this extremely difficult time.
If you or a family member has been seriously injured in an accident, call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.